Tapping device.



f No. 7'i3,l|3. Patented Nov. ".1902 H. KRAEMER L G. Hasse.

TAPPING Device'.

'Application filed July 25. 1901..

rNn Model.)

ATTURNEYS DNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN KRAEMER AND GUSTAV HESSE, F COLLEGEPOINT, NEW YORK; SAID KRAEMERASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM SCHMIDT, OF COLLEGEPOINT,

NEW YORK.

TAPPING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 713,1 13, dated November11, 1902.

Application filed July 25,1901'. Serial Nd. 69,629. (No model.)

enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to that class of devices which are forced intothe bung-hole of a barrel, keg, or other vessel to drive the bung intothe vessel and tap the contentsthereof;

and the object of our invention is to provide a device of this classwhich is simple inconstruction and operation and by means of which thetapping of the vessel may be quickly and easily accomplished without useof va hammer or similar device; and with this and other objects in Viewthe inventionconsists of a device of the class specified constructed ashereinafter described.

This invention is fully disclosed in the fol-` lowing specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawing forms a part,in which the separate partsof our improvement are designated.

by suitable reference characters, said drawing being a central verticalsection of our improved tapping device and showing'the same connectedwith a barrel or other vessel.

In the use of a device embodying our invention it is customary for thebarrel or other Vessel A to be provided with a bung-bushing B, screwedor otherwise secured therein and provided with an upwardly-directedflange or rim B', preferably of greater diameter thanv the body portionofthe bushing and screwthreaded interiorly, and in the bushing 'B isinserted the bung C, which may be of the type shown in the drawing or ofany other preferred iorm.

Our improved beer-tapping device embodies a tubular casingD,screW-threaded at its lower end, as shown at D, so as to be screwedinto the liange Bof'the bung-bushing, and above the screw-threadedportion D is a flange D2, beneath which is arranged a packing-ring D3.

At one side of the casing D is a laterallyarranged pipe E, in which issecured an airinlet tube F, adapted exteriorly to receive a rubber tubein the usual manner and open the inner end of the tube F.' Within thepipe E is secured a rubber valve F2, the lips F3 of which are normallycontracted, but will open under pressure of air, and our improvement isadapted more particularly for tapping barreis, kegs, or other vesselscontaining beer or similar liquor or liquids containing gas or liquidsunder pressure,and the barrel or other vessel A is supported with itsbung-hole up, as shown in the drawing.

The top portion of the casing D is enlarged at the upper end thereof, asshown at G, and said enlarged portion is screw-threaded interiorly, 'andat the bottom thereof is an annu- .lar shoulder D4, upon which ismounted a packing-ring II.

lVithin the screw-threaded extension orenlargement G is Vplaced ascrew-threaded plug or head I, provided with projecting lugs or handlesI upon either side thereof and provided at lits lower end with anintegral downwardly-directed cylindrical or tubular extension or tube J,which lits Within the casing D, but is of such diameter as to form anann ularair-space D5 between the same and said casing, andsaid tube isof such length as to project appreciably below the casing in the normalposition of the plug I, and said plug is exteriorly threaded, so thatthe rotation thereof causes it to descend into the extension G of thecasing D and force the tube J downwardly.

The tapping-tube K may be of any desired length and constitutes thedraw-0E tube and isprovided with a conical or pointed lower end K', inwhich are 'formed a plurality of apertures K2, through which the liquidor liquor is passed into and out through said tube. The tube K isinserted through the head or plug I, and while fitting tightly thereinis adapted to slide freely therein and in the tube J, and the upper endof the tube K is in practice provided with a spigot or other suitablevalve or draw-oft' device in the usual manner, said valve or draw-offdevice being not shown. The upper end of the plug or head I is centrallyrecessed, and placed therein is a packing-riugH, above which is placed anut L, which may be screwed down into said packing-ring in the usualmanner, and the said n ut L and plug lare correspondingly threaded.

The operation of this device will be readily understood from theforegoing description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing and the following statement.

The appliance having been inserted iu the bung-hole ofthe barrel byscrewing the same into the flange B, the plug or head I is turned tobring the lower edge of its extension-tube J slightly in contact withthe bung. The tapping-tube K is then drawn down so as to similarly restupon the bung, and the nut L is tightened to the greatest possibleextent against the packing H'. lt will be manifest that within the scopeof our invention other means may be employed for securing thetapping-tube adjustable to the head or plug I. The tubes J and K beingthus in mutuallyadjusted position, the head or plug is rotated by meansof its lug or handle I or through the medium of any suitable instrumentapplied to it, so that the lower edge of the extension-tube J bears downupon the bung and either drives it into the barrel or breaks through itand forces the lower portion th ereof into the barrel, this beingdependent upon the style of bung which has been employed to seal thepackage. As the tapping-tube K is secured in its adjusted position bymeans of the nut L, it will be carried downwardly with the tube J, andwill therefore be properlyand effectivelyin position to receive thefluid therethrough the moment it is able to leave the barrel. lt is notessential that the lower end of the tapping-tube K should be actually incontact with the bung, nor is it essential that the tapping-tube Kshould be actually in contact with the bung, nor is it essential thatthe tapping-tube peform any of the work of pushing in the bung. Thetapping-tube may immediately or at any time during the constant orintermittent withdrawal of the contents ot' the barrel be verticallyadjusted relatively tothe plug or head I and to the liquor in the barrelby loosening the nut L, sliding the tube K downwardly, and then againtightening the nut L. As the contents of the barrel are withdrawn andthe pressure in the cask becomes less the escaping air-pressure from theoutside of the tube F will open the lips F3 of the valve F2 and permitsulficient air to enter to maintain the proper pressure in the barrel;but however great the inside pressure of the gas of the beer the liquiditself cannot escape through the valve F2, as its lips F3 will be butmore tightly contracted. The especial forni of valve is not new, andthis portion of the device forms no essential part of the invention,except broadly as an element contributing to the effect-ive operation ofthe device. The liquor flows through the opening K2 into the pipe K andout through the spigot K3 thereof. The packin gs H and H make the casingD and the tube J tight against liquid air or gas. The packing AH istightened by the nut L after the tube K is once adjusted, and thepacking Il may be tightened byscrewing down the plug I.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Pat-ent, is-

l. Abeer-tappingdevicecomprisingatubullar casing screw-threaded at itslower end and provided with a flange or rim above the threaded portionthereof, said casing being enlarged at its upper end and interiorlythreaded, a packing-ring placed in the bottom of the enlarged portion, ascrew-threaded plug or head screwed into said enlarged portion of saidcasing and provided at its lower end with a tube which passes downwardlythrough said casing and is of less diameter than said casing, atappingtube passed through said tubular plug or head and through thetube connected therewith, said plug or head being provided in its upperend with an enlarged screw-threaded opening and a packingring placedtherein and a nut vscrewed thereouto through which said tapping-tubepasses, said casing being also provided at one side with a tubularextension forming an air-pipe coupling, substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. A device of the class described compris; ing a tubular casing, thelower end of which is screw-threaded and provided with a flange or rimabove the screw-threaded portion, the upper end of said casing beingenlarged and interior-ly threaded, a tubular plug or head screwed intothe enlarged portion at the upper end of said casing and provided at itslower end with a tube which passes downwardly through said casing,saidscrew-threaded plug or head being also provided at its upper end with anenlarged central opening and a Ynut screwed thereonto and a tapping-tubewhich passes through said nut and through said tubular plugorheadandthrough the tube at the lower end thereof, substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. A device of the class described comprising a tubular casing, thelower end of which is screw-threaded and provided with a flange or rimabove the screw-threaded portion, the upper end of said casing beingenlarged and interiorly threaded, a tubular plug or head screwed ontothe enlarged portion at the upper end of said casing and provided at itslower end with a tube which passes downwardly through said casing,saidscrew-threaded plug or head being also provided at its upper end with anenlarged central opening and a nut screwed thereinto, and a tapping-tubewhich passesl through said nut and through said tubular plug or head andthrough the tube at the lower end thereof, the main tubular casing beingalso provided at one side with a tubular extension and air-pipecoupling, substantially as shown and described.

4. A device of the class described compris- IIO head or plug and thetube connected With the lower end thereof, and a tubular extensionlconnected With the side of the main tubular casing-and adapted to serveas an air-pipe connection,substantially as shown. and de- I5 ,scribed Intestimony that We claim the foregoing as our invention We have signedour names, in presence of the subscribing Witnesses, this 17th day ofJuly, 1901;

HERMAN KRAEMER. GUSTA.; HESSE.

Witnesses:

F. A. STEWART, L. R. BAYER.

